5 Reasons you will love Northern Ireland…

Over the past 18 months I have been lucky enough to make regular visits to Country Antrim and the surrounding area, and have fallen in love with what I have found there. Often overlooked because of its history and separate status as part of the United Kingdom, it is less visited than the southern part of Ireland, but has just as much to offer. Here’s are some of the reasons why I love Northern Ireland!

Glenarm, Co. Antrim

1. The landscapes

This was a wonderful surprise when I first started exploring Northern Ireland. As an outsider, the images we get are those from the news: central Belfast, grey and depressing with its concrete walls and violent struggles. So I was overjoyed to find a beautiful landscape waiting for me, with cliffs, glens, moors and everything in between. I’m not done exploring yet, and I can’t wait for more.

Sunset over the east Antrim close near Carnlough

2. The greenness

Now, there are pluses and minuses to the fact that Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle. Of course, the reason the countryside is so green and lush is because it rains – a lot! But the rain makes the countryside so beautiful, and flying down into Belfast airport is always a joy as the green patchwork spreads out before you. OK, so the weather isn’t always that great, but it’s totally worth it. At least for a few days at a time!

Lough Neagh, Antrim

3. The loughs

Yes, loughs, not lochs. Northern Ireland’s answer to Scotland’s jewels, the loughs are something special. Lough Neagh, Lough Erne, wherever you are there is an expanse of water nearby that sparkles in the summer sun or tosses angrily in the wind and rain. I love to be near water, and you are never far away from it in Northern Ireland.

Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh

4. The sense of community

We know that the region gets a bad press due to the divisions between communities, and I consider myself neither qualified nor knowledgeable enough to comment on the politics of the province. But my personal experience has been that there is far more of a community spirit in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK. It is made up primarily of small towns and villages, and everybody seems to know everybody else. This gives a friendliness and intimacy that is unlike anything I’ve known having grown up in south-east England, and is very appealing to me.

Glenarm, Co Antrim

5. The craic

Oh, this is a cliché, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true! Everyone talks about the Irish craic, and there just isn’t a better single word to describe the humour, banter and general good-natured interaction that takes place throughout Ireland as a whole. And Northern Ireland is no exception. I look forward immensely to my trips over there because I know that there will be plenty of laughter, even in the most serious of situations. It does pay not to take yourself too seriously, though!

Giant’s Causeway, north Antrim coast

Have you been to Northern Ireland? What did you enjoy the most? Let me know in the comments below!

Planning a trip to the Emerald Isle? Check out these posts for some serious Irish inspiration!

I’m Jill, and I’m a British blogger who has been travelling for more than 15 years, visiting 65+ countries on 6 continents. I love to travel both solo and with groups, and to discover the cultures and peoples of the countries I visit. And I love to share a good story or two along the way!

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15 Comments

Oh, you’ve explained it so well – what’s there not to like! I’m always stunned by the landscapes of Ireland, so breathtaking! Still haven’t been and always feel even more impatient when I read something like this! 😀 Thanks!

Nice post! I have to admit I lived in Ireland for a while and ended up moving out because I could not stand the bad weather 🙁 but you are very right about the landscapes and the greenness, these are stunning 🙂

Country Antrim looks beautiful… I would love it for the landscapes and greenery!! Also love being near water and it’s so nice that there are many loughs in Northern Ireland(: …lovely…I love rains too, makes surroundings very beautiful.

I am headed to Northern Ireland in late September and I can’t wait! Since you’ve been to the Giant’s Causeway, would you recommend it at sunrise or sunset? I am bad at sense of direction and the fact that it is in the north of the island doesn’t really give me a precise clue… when would you argue it’s at its best for photos? Yours looks like a sunset? Thanks!

Yes, I went at sunset. The Causeway faces due north, so it really doesn’t matter, but I’d imagine it would be pretty cold at dawn! Either way though you’ll need plenty of layers and rain gear in September, but you’ll have a great time!!